Hurricane Dorian Expected To Be Category 3 When It Reaches U.S.

>>>Get the latest information on Dorian's path as it heads towards the U.S. on Labor Day.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Hurricane season is upon us, and the first big storm near the U.S. is brewing in the Caribbean this week. Hurricane Dorian - now a Category 1 hurricane - is tracking toward Florida, but experts are still unsure as to where the storm will make landfall in the U.S.

Dorian is packing sustained winds of 60 mph and moved over Puerto Rico Wednesday morning. From there, it is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane by Thursday night east of the Bahamas. The latest National Hurricane Center track puts it near the upper Atlantic coast of Florida late Sunday night, not too far from Daytona Beach.

The circulation center is forecast to pass south of Puerto Rico Wednesday, then clip the eastern tip of Hispaniola late Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service. From there, it moves through the Bahamas, winding up near West Palm Beach, Florida, late Saturday night.

How will this affect Labor Day weekend travelers to Florida beaches? Meteorologist James Spann said that remains to be seen.

"There will be little if any direct impact along the Gulf Coast over the Labor Day weekend (places like Gulf Shores, Destin and Panama City Beach)," Spann said Wednesday. "A few showers and storms are possible there, mainly Sunday and Monday, but it is the typical late summer activity."

Spann added that there remains considerable uncertainty for the part of the forecast beyond 36 hours because the future intensity of Dorian will be dependent on how much land interaction there is with the mountainous island of Hispaniola.

"While uncertainty remains high, wind and rain impacts are possible in the Bahamas and the Florida Peninsula later this week and this weekend," Spann said. "Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Dorian and ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place."